PS 635 
Z9 L88 

Copy I 



PS 635 

Z9 L88 
Copy 1 




THE MALEDICTION 



IN THREE ACTS. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH, AND ADAPTED 
FOR MALE CHARACTERS ONLY. 



With Stage Directions, Cast of Characters, 
Relative Positions, Etc. 



Joseph fl. Iiy©fi3, B. M. 



ilk 



NOTRE DAME, INDIANA : 
UNIVERSITY PRESS. 

I88 3 . 




THE MALEDICTION. 



P BpgF^a 



IN THREE ACTS. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH, AND ADAPTED 
FOR MALE CHARACTERS ONLY. 



With Stage Directions, Cast of Characters, 
Relative Positions, Etc. 



Joseph R. IiyseS, p. M. 




NOTRE DAME, INDIANA : 

UNIVERSITY PRESS. 

1883. 






Copyright, 1883, 
JOSEPH A. LYONS, A. M., 

NOTRE DAME, IND. 



Z~dU~// 



DEDICATION. 



To the Members of the 



ST. CECILIA PHILOMATHEAN SOCIETY, 



PAST, PRESENT, AND YET TO BE, 



jig Spai^a, 



already familiar in their history, 

And Endeared to their Recollections, 

IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED 

By One 

whose brightest reminiscences, 

For a Quarter of a Century, 

are of the hours 

Passed in their Society. 

J. A. L. 

Notre Dame, Indiana, 
Dec. 8, 1883. 



DRAMATIS PERSON/E. 



Don Vasco de Gome/, a Spanish nobleman. 

Dox Alonzo, Son of Don Vasco. 

Don* Lopez, friend of Alonzo. 

Tarik, Lieutenant to the Caliph. 

Pedro, a Peasant. 

Pedrillo, ) o , TJ 

-i-, sons of Pedro. 

Fahricio, \ 

Ibrahim, a rich Mahometan. 

Mendoza, Spanish Officer. 

Marietto,"] 

BASILIO, r. . , r, , ,. 

- Spanish Soldiers. 

Saxcho, r 

Virgilio, I 

Juanixo, Slave of Ibrahim. 
Abdallah, Mahometan Jailer. 
Jirmibechlich, a Turkish Slave. 

Spanish Soldiers, Mahometan Soldiers, Peasants, 
etc. 

in the second act, Aloxzo is called Almaxzor, and in the third, 
Fernando. In the second act, Lopez is called Soliman. 



COSTUMES. 



Don Vasco. A rich brown Spanish dress, trimmed with gold lace, 
slashed with black satin, silk stockings, with gold clocks, black shoes, 
large Spanish hat with black feathers, one red ditto, point lace collar 
and cuffs. 

Dox Aloxzo. — First Dress: Rich emerald green velvet Spanish 
dress, slashed with white satin, jacket of white satin, cloak of white 
satin, turn back, embroidered with broad philacteries of dead and bright 
gold, white hat, white feathers, white silk stockings, shoes with gold 
and satin rosettes, and dress trimmed with satin of the same. Second 
Dress: Scarlet turban, scarlet mantle, white sarsnet robe, and cestus 
richly ornamented, copper-colored pantaloons and red sandals. Third 
Dress: Old blue velvet trunks, leather doublet, brown velvet sleeves, 
old brown sombrero, torn lace collar, old silk stockings. 

Don Lopez. — Amber jacket, purple velvet cloak, trunks richly trim- 
med with gold, and bows of crimson satin ribbon, drab hat with one 
feather, russet boots, point lace cuffs and collar. Second Dress: Like 
Don Alonzo, but in green colors. 

T4.RIK. — Handsome Turkish fly of scarlet and gold, amber shirt of 
merino reaching below the knee, white merino Turkish trowsers, rus- 
set boots, scimitar, scarlet turban with gold crescent. 

Ibrahim. — White Moorish dress with deep broad purple stripe. 
Green turban. 

Pedro. — Blue shirt trimmed with orange, with heavy hanging 
sleeves, and bonnet with single plume. 

Pedrillo and Fabricio. — The same, in colors green and pink, res- 
pectively. 

Mendoza. — Black silver jacket and trunks, puffed with yellow satin 
and gold, scarlet silk tights, russet boots, red rosettes, gauntlets, Span- 
ish hat, white plumes, lace collar, sword, etc. 

Spanish Soldiers. — Buff coats and full Spanish breeches, buff 
boots, helmets and breastplates. 

Juanino. — Plain shirt with red leggings. 

Abdallah. — Red Turkish fly, breastplate underneath, plain white 
shirt, Turkish pantaloons, russet boots, white turban, scimitar. 

Jirmibechlich. — Blue Turkish fly, white shirt reaching below the 
knee, blue Turkish trowsers. 

Mahometan Soldiers. — Scarlet Turkish fly, moderately trimmed 
with silver and gold, breastplates underneath, white shirts, Turkish 
pantaloons, russet boots, scarlet turbans, scimitars. 

Peasants. — Same as Pedro, but in various colors. 



EXITS AND ENTRANCES. 



R. means Right; L. Left; R. D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door; 
S. E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle Door. 



RELATIVE POSITIONS. 



R. means Right; L. Left ; C. Centre; R. C Right 'of Centre; L. C. 
Left of Centre. 



PREFACE. 



TT7 HE plot of this play is laid in Spain, during the Mahometan wars. 
Don Alonzo, son of Don Vasco de Gomez, a princely nobleman, is 
persuaded by ambition and the evil counsel of his confidant, Don Lopez, 
to abandon his father, his country, and his God. He becomes a prince 
among the Mahometans, and, in the progress of the war, his father and 
all his soldiers fall into the hands of Tarik, the Mahometan com- 
mander. Tarik commands Don Alonzo to visit his father, and endeavor 
to win him to the faith of the Prophet, assuring him that if he fails, his 
father shall die. Alonzo obeys ; his father, with righteous indignation, 
repels him, and pronounces upon him a terrible malediction, beneath 
which he withers and loses his reason. 

Don Vasco and his vassals escape from the Turks and return to the 
Christian camp, where they find Don Alonzo, who, under his father's 
care, returns to reason, and is afterwards killed in a battle with the Ma- 
hometans. Pedrillo, the peasant, is a man of many words but few 
actions. He excites a great deal of merriment, and in the last scene 
shows his skill as a swordsman by killing Tarik in a scientific manner. 
The play abounds in thrilling incidents. The situations are natural, the 
diction is forcible, and in all particulars it is an excellent and highly 
meritorious play. 



THE MALEDICTION, 



A Drama in Three Acts. 



ACT FIRST. 

SCENE I. 



A view of the Asturias. On the right is the postern of the castle of 
Don Vasco ; Mendoza, Marietto, Basilio, discovered ; Sancho on 
duty at the postern. Groups of Soldiers : some playing dice, others 
grouped about Mendoza- 



Marietto. Five, eight, fourteen. 

Basilio. Pair of fives, won ! 

Marietto. To the dogs with the game ! I'll play no 
more. 

Basilio. Hold, Marietto; come, take your revenge. 
. Marietto. Done! I take the moustaches of the first Ma- 
hometan who falls beneath my sword. 

Virgilio (Singing): 

And sell not the skin of bear 
Until you've slept in open air. 

Marietto. May the wig of Mahomet make a turban for 
me if I don't cut off enough of their beards to make half a 
dozen cushions for myself. 

Basilio. Well said! And when will the affair take 
place? 

Virgilio. As soon as King Pelagius gives orders for us 
to pommel the shoulders of these infidels. 



IO THE MALEDICTION. 

Marietto. For my part, I'd like to make a mess of the 
ears and noses of my prisoners. ( To Mendoza.) What say 
you, Mendoza? 

Basilic-. Oh! he's probably thinking of some new hymn 
of glory. Come, Mendoza, a few couplets ; they'll aid us to 
pass away the time. 

Marietto. That beautiful romance, you know, that 
awakens such enthusiasm. 

Mendoza. Most willingly, brave comrades. God and 
the king are the most worthy subjects of our songs: 

As if by some satanic spell 

Mahomet's hordes possess the land; 
At his approach our cities fell; 

The prophet false speaks to command. 
Noble race of gallant Spain, 

Like mine your hearts repeat the ring; 
Freedom for our land maintain, 

All for our country and our king. 

'Midst a heap of ruins piled 

My mother died beneath their trod ; 
Looked on their bloody hands and smiled, 

And begged for mercy as from God. 
Too -weak and feeble were my hands 

To then avenge her cruel death ; 
But when in ire my heart expands, 

It breathes but vengeance every breath. 

Then take thy bound, my gallant steed, 

In glorious fields of old Castile; 
From home and friends I soon must speed, 

The foeman's heart must take my steel. 
'Tis wish of God and fatherland, 

The martial war-song we will sing; 
The clarion's note calls all to stand 

And fight for God and for our king. 

\Enter Dox Vasco. r. 2 e.] 
Don Vasco. Well done, brave soldiers! The good cause 
you have espoused does not allow one thought of sorrow. If at 
any time, when beholding our 'beautiful country covered with 
ruins, your angry passions are aroused, remember that God 
has ordained us to avenge her wrongs. Brave companions 
of Pelagius, re-enter your fort and rest yourselves from the 
fatigues of the night ; I myself will keep guard for you. {Ex- 
eunt soldiers u E.) ( To Basilio.) Basilio ! 
Basilio. My Lord! 



THE MALEDICTION. I I 

Don V. Come here, my brave fellow! You are gifted 
with great courage and address, and therefore I confide to 
you a mission which will demand your greatest prudence and 
coolness of judgment, with a firm devotion to our cause in 
every danger. May I rely upon you? 

Basilio. You may, my Lord. 

Don V. Good! You are without doubt aware that Pe- 
lagius, saluted King of Spain by a band of faithful subjects, 
is about to raise aloft the national standard in the mountains 
of Asturia. He calls to himself all those who upon this good 
old soil have preserved their faith, and the desire of independ- 
ence which it continually awakens. Castile, Aragon, the 
mountains of Navarre and Biscay have responded to the call 
of their respected king; Spain too will soon rise as a single 
man, and range her hosts under his dauntless colors. Go, then, 
my brave comrade: outwit the enemies who surround us; 
find King Pelagius and tell him that, here, our hearts and 
arms are his. Tell him that Vasco de Gomez has never 
bowed to the haughty banner of Mahomet; that the flag 
of Spain still floats in triumph from the ramparts of his 
castle, and the faith of the soldier of Christ still burns strongly 
within his devoted bosom. 

Basilio. I go, my Lord, and if I succeed not in fulfilling 
your commands, 'twill be that death has claimed me before I 
could avenge my country's wrongs. 

Dont V. Farewell, Basilio. May God and our Lady of 
Sorrows guard you. {Exeunt in opposite directions.) 

SCENE II. 

[ The same. Sancho on guard. Pedrillo enters, r. 3 e., 
singing. ~\ 

Sancho. Who goes there? 

Pedrillo. Who goes there! Why, myself, to be sure; 
at least, I think so. 

Sancho (angrily). Who goes there? Quick: speak! 

Pedrillo. Confound you! Must I speak a dozen times! 
It is I, as I told you! I, Pedrillo, son of Pedro, tenant of 
Lord Vasco, who's known all round the world! D'ye know 
me now? But am I awake? Can I believe my eyes? No! 
— Yes, — but — but is — th — at you, Sancho? 



12 THE MALEDICTION. 

Sancho. Well yes; I'm Sancho, made into a soldier. 

Pedrillo. I thought something must have happened 
when you couldn't recognize an acquaintance. But what 
are you doing there? 

Sancho. What am I doing? Why, you blockhead, don't 
you see I'm on guard! 

Pedrillo. And who told you to stop me? 

Sancho. Well, you see, I took you for a Mahometan. 

Pedrillo. The devil! do I look like one! 

Think you it's I would follow Mahomet? 

Since when have I passed for a fool? 
Of folly you must have come to the summit, 

Or stand much in need of a little more school. 
He comes out and boldly forbids us to drink; 

Who ever heard of aught of the kind? 
It must he the devil that taught him to think, 

Or else he has fairly gone out ot his mind. 

I say, Sancho, you treat this subject too lightly ; so, to prove 
what I sang, here's a little flask of old Pedro's choicest {shows 
an enormous bottle \; and, if you wish to try it, it is at your 
service. 

Sancho. Of course, I'll take a drop! 

Pedrillo. At the same time, I'll dine on a little crust 
I've got here. Come, sit down {they sit); take a drink. 
(Sancho drinks.) My turn now i Pedrillo drinks. Both 
drink many times \. 

Sancho. (Wiping his month.) Now, Pedrillo, what 
brought you here this morning ? 

Pedrillo. {Eating and drinking.) What brought me 
here! Well, I don't know much about it; but I'll tell you 
all I do know (drinks). You must remember that it was in 
the village of Santiago I first saw the light of day. (Drinks.) 
This village, as you know, is just on the boundaries of the 
province of Don Pelagius. For two days I was at home, 
thinking of nothing — of nothing more than usual — when, all 
at once, I heard a noise that made my blood run cold from my 
feet to my head. Not that I got scared, — but {rising quickly) 
Sancho, Sancho! — di — di — did — n't vou hear a — a — a noise? 

Sancho. No, nothing; go on. 

Pedrillo. Hold, till I take a drink (drinks). This was a 



i lib MALEDICTION, 1,3 

most unearthly cry; then followed groans, — -then an uproar; 
and, slap! bang! down came the blood-thirsty Mahometans 
to take possession of our village, and each one looked as if 
he'd like to make a stew of all the noses, ears, and heads in 
the place. 

Sancho. Indeed! 

Pedrillo. Having more than a slight regard for the 
preservation of my ears and head, I thought the most proper 
thing to do would be to avoid these ignorant barbarians ; and 
not caring for danger, for I am never afraid, I jumped through 
the window and started across the fields, when two of the brutes 
jumped and, striking me with the flat of their sabres, ordered 
me to march on before them. I obeyed. I always obey. 
And when we reached their camp, where they needed several 
fine men, I was placed aside as one of the most distinguished. 
The lieutenant of the caliph looked at me and was much pleased 
with my features. "Dog!" said he. You know, Sancho, 
when these strange men say " dog " they mean the same as 
when we say " dear friend." " Dog ! you come from the village 
of Santiago?" "That I do," replied I, with a grand bow; 
just like this, d'ye see (bows like a Turk). "Hold, dog!" he 
continued, most friendly; "take this letter to Don Alonzo de 
Gomez. One hundred pieces of gold if you bring me an 
answer; five hundred lashes if you fail and ever again fall 
into our hands." He gave the letter; I brought it; now I 
wait for some one to open the gates that I may give it to 
Alonzo in person. 

Sancho. {Rising quickly.) You'll not have long to 
wait; for, hark! he is just coming. 

\_Rnter Alonzo and Lopez, r. i e.] 

Lopez. Why do you hesitate, my Lord? circumstances 
were never more favorable. Spain, well nigh crushed by 
the Mahometans, has little hope of rising from her ruined 
state. Tarik, all-powerful, offers thrones to those of noble 
birth who discard their harrassed religion; the discouraged 
people have given an example of apostasy; the approaching 
ruin of your house, the hatred you bear to Pelagius — all 
urge you to follow the multitude and win its foolish love of 
novelty. Tarik proposes an alliance with you ; he offers you 
gold, dignities, honors! Accept them, Alonzo; accept. 

Alonzo. And my God, my father, and my king? 



14 THE MALEDICTION. 

Lopez. Your father, overcome by his old prejudices, ab- 
hors the Crescent; he believes that the position for every true 
Spaniard is beneath the standard of the Cross! Leave him to 
his ideas, but do not allow them to enter your heart; leave 
him to his belief, it makes him happy ; but we want it not. 
Your king! Has Pelagius, chosen by a few powerful chief- 
tains, a right to this title? Is it right' that the blood of Rod- 
i-igo should take possession of the throne? Are you not of 
nobler birth and lineage than he? A hundred others, braver 
than Pelagius, may dispute his power! And what power! 
A few square leagues of sterile mountains, a handful of 
ragged soldiers, and a horde of ambitious chiefs; a power' 
which extends no farther than the territory occupied by the 
feet of his soldiers. Your God! Alonzo, does He restrain 
you when, in your nightly orgies — when, in the depth of your 
debaucheries, you dviv I lis power. Think you of Him when 
you pour out gold to gratify the cravings of your passions; 
or, thought you of Him when, in Granada, you pillaged the 
venerated sanctuaries of the Christians and destroyed their 
sacred vessels and precious reliquaries? For you and me, the 
God of the Christians and the God of Mahomet are the same. 
Gold, power, and honors are the divinities that merit our 
homage. 

Alonzo. Have you finished, Lopez? 

Lopez. I have. 

Alonzo. And think you, you have seduced me by your 
subtle sophisms? Deny my father! Abjure my God! Yes, 
my God! for do you not see, Lopez, that I still perceive how 
numerous are mv crimes; what numberless profanations I 
have committed; and that, with sorrow, deep and sincere, 
I now confess them. I feel there is a God — the good and 
righteous God of the Christian! You will call this a prejudice, 
shameful and childish; we can't help it. God indeed exists; 
and when I reflect within myself, and search into the in- 
nermost depths of my heart, all force of reason disappears 
before this prejudice, and I am left feeble as a child. Re- 
nounce mv God! woidd you do it, Lopez? 

Lopez. My Lord, if I had a terrible injury to avenge; if, 
like you, I had been repulsed by Pelagius; if, like you, I had 
heretofore made a profession of atheism, I would not hesitate. 

Aloxzo. You have not answered. 



THE MALEDICTION. 1 5 

Pedrillo. (Advancing.) Don Alonzo! 

Alonzo. What do you wish? Speak! 

Pedrillo. 'Pon my word, this is strange; when I have 
to speak to a nohleman I don't know what to say. 

Alonzo. Well, what is it? 

Pedrillo. Yes, my Lord! {aside) but then it isn't hard; 
I have only to sav as I was directed: " Your Highness, here 
is a letter to which I await the reply." It's very simple. 

Alonzo. Do you know my patience is not lasting? 

Pedrillo. Ah, well! (scratching his head) at present I 
know very little of what I've got to say. Very well! I am 
(saluting) — My Lord — that is, I come — no! but I've got a 
letter. (Searching his pockets, boots, etc., and lastly his hat, 
where, after much buffoonery, he finds the letter.) Ah! here 
it is. (Salutes again.) My Lord, a letter that Tarif 

Alonzo. ( With surprise.) Tank ! 

Pedrillo. Yes, my Lord, that the great Tarif, trie lieu- 
tenant of the armies of the caliph, the chief of the Mahom- 
etans, in a word, — (aside in a low voice,) without reckoning 
that these Mahometans are infamous cut-throats, and have 
slapped me with the flat of their sabres, and have made me 
sore from the top of my back-bone to 

Alonzo. And this letter, this letter; for whom is it? 

Pedrillo. For you, my Lord. 

Alonzo. Give it to me then, you senseless babbler. 
(Snatches the letter.) 

Pedrillo. (Aside.) Look there! the thanks I always 
get. Senseless! It seems there's nothing else to call a man. 
Senseless! Well, well! (Sighs comically.) 

Alonzo. (7o Pedrillo.) You may go. (To guard.) 
Stand aside! 

Pedrillo. But 

Alonzo. Begone, I tell vou! 

Pedrillo. (Going out.) Almost killed with Mahometan 
sabres; insulted for fulfilling my commission; five hundred 
lashes in expectation; that is what is called awfully lucky, is it! 
(Exit. L. I E.) 
• Alonzo. ( Giving open letter to Lopez.) Read, Lopez! 



i6 mi: MALBMOTtdK-i 



Lopez. (Reading.*) 

"Lord Alonzo : — The caliph, our sovereign and sublime lord, 
whose glances are as the scintillations of the carbuncle, whose mouth 
exhales perfume sweeter than that of the two Arabias, whose words 
are as the purest honey, and who sits upon a throne of diamonds, 
who rules over the mightiest kings and treads under his feet the em- 
perors of the East; conqueror of Christians, successor of Mahomet, — 
the caliph, I sav, has condescended to bestow upon you one ot those 
glances which" brings joy to princes and happiness to the people. 
Knowing well your legitimate resentment against Pelagius, the enemy 
of the prophet' and the contemner of his law, he deigns to honor you 
with his esteem : he calls you to himself, and proposes, it you corres- 
pond with his wishes, to open to you the inestimable treasure of his 
favors. You can with him possess riches, reputation, and honor. Re- 
flect! On the one hand, slavery or death; on the other, all the happi- 
ness that the heart can desire! P>e wily and prfident as the serpent, 
and let your reply reach me as quickly a- the gazelle bounds over the 
desert's burning sand. Allah, (rod, alone is -real, and Mahomet is his 
prophet. 



You see what he offers you, my Lord; riches, reputation 
honors. Can you hesitate any longer? 

Alonzo. And vengeance, too! The die is cast! Come, 
Lopez, come; share my good fortune; aid me with your 
counsels, and sustain me with your reasoning. The Mahom- 
etan outposts are not far distant; let us join them at once. 
Come on! ( They go towards the side. ) 

[Enter Don Yasco, r. i e.J 

Don V. Whither do you go, my son? I have come to 
seek you. Come here. Why do you appear to avoid me? 
Is your fathers presence hateful to you? Listen to me: I 
have just now sent word to Pelagius to offer him our ser- 
vices; he relies upon us. 

Alonzo. Pelagius relies on me! 

Don V. And why not? Has he not rescued the stand- 
ard of Spain from the opprobrium into which it was cast? 
Have not all the Christians, true Spaniards, and all our noble 
old cavaliers gathered 'neath its glorious folds? And what 
motives 

Lopez. But, my Lord, you know — 

Dox V. Silence, Lopez ! Yes, I know that your perfidious 
counsels are hastening my son to ruin; I know the power 
you exercise over him; I know your depraved morals, your 



the malediction. in- 

corrupt maxims, and I should fear — yes, fear — for the welfare 
of my son, if he came not from the illustrious house of 
De Gomez. Whatever may be his errors, he will never for- 
get that the noble blood of heavenly saints and of the kings of 
vSpain still courses through his veins. Yes, my son, we are 
going to unite our vassals and join Pelagius; we leave to- 
morrow, at break of day. 

Alonzo. No, father; I will not set out. Pelagius will 
never behold me following in his train. Sprung as though he 
be from royal blood, I owe him nothing. Some of our lords, 
imposed upon by a vain display of valor, have chosen him as 
their chief: let them follow him; let them revel in the honors 
of his palace whose halls are sombre caverns, wherein the rich- 
est tapestries are formed of honeyed moss; let them command 
a miserable band of hireling peasants; let them quench their 
thirst in the waters of the wayside fountains, and regale them- 
selves with the oaten bread of poverty-stricken mountaineers. 
Pelagius! I hate him too much ever to serve him! 

Don V. And should your hate rule, my son, when there 
is question of your country? Is this a time to engage in vain 
disputation? An insolent stranger tramples down our har- 
vests, pillages our cities, burns our cottages, destroys our 
palaces; his armies mark their progress with heaps of ruins 
and blood-empurpled soil — and you hesitate. Alonzo, j^ou 
hesitate! You prefer the gilded halls of shame to the 
obscure caverns of true honor; you choose slavery rather 
than liberty, — and you bear the name of Gomez! 

Alonzo. Father! 

Don Vasco. If you resist the call of your country, can 
you be true to your God? Ascend your highest towers: look, 
and everywhere around you behold the infidel crescent re- 
placing the symbol of salvation. Then, beholding our relig- 
ion humiliated, profaned, and trampled to the dust, can your 
heart remain untouched! Alonzo, are you a Christian? 

Alonzo. Father! 

Don V. Are you a Christian? You hesitate, unhappy 
wretch! Are you a Christian, I ask you? 

Alonzo. {Lowering his head and speaking with hesi- 
tation.) Yes, father. 

Don V. To-morrow, then, at one o'clock, don your 



IO THE MALEDICTION. 

brightest armor, mount your charger, and to-morrow night 
will find us in the camp of Pelagius. Be ready then! 
{Exit, R. 2 E.) 

Lopez. Alonzo. 

Alonzo. Leave me, Lopez ; I will not hear you — I am 
going with my father. Yes, father, you have won! It is 
not for you, Pelagius — it is not for you! It is for honor and 
religion! 'Tis my duty conducts me beneath your banners. 
Lopez, farewell! farewell! 

Lopez. And is it thus, my Lord, that you leave? 

Alonzo. Your counsels have failed to ruin me. Fare- 
well! 

Lopez. Oh! it is ever thus with the great! We, their 
feeble slaves, are kept with care while we serve their evil in- 
clinations; but, as a vile instrument, are destroyed and cast 
aside when we are no longer useful. 

Alonzo. Lopez! Lopez! you do me wrong — I will 
always be your protector. But why will you not follow me 
to the camp of Pelagius? Are you not, too, a Spaniard and 
a Christian? 

Lopez. No, my Lord; if Don Alonzo forgets his motives 
of hatred, throws aside the fortune that is offered him, and 
the means of vengeance so fairly within his grasp, and 
slavishly follows Pelagius, Lopez will never do so, my Lord ! 

Alonzo. Leave me," I tell you! My heart, like the 
angry sea, is stirred to its lowest depths; and like wild inter- 
mingling of the foamy breakers, my mind is confused, my 
thoughts confounded. 

Pedrillo. Five hundi'ed lashes! Only think of it! 
think of it! There's little fun in it except for that Mahom- 
etan! Nevertheless, if I dared — 

Alonzo. Flave you considered, Lopez, that your country 
is in danger; that the worship of God has been turned into 
mockery ? 

Lopez. I consider nothing but your weakness and irre- 
solution. 

Pedrillo. Bah! Lord Alonzo won't eat me, any way! 
But, at any rate, I'd be rid of the trouble by speaking to 
him {advances stealthily). 

Alonzo. My irresolution — my weakness,— Lopez! 



THE MALEDICTION. IO, 

Pedrillo. (Ln a subdued tone.) My Lord! 

Lopez. Yes, my Lord; your irresolution and feebleness! 
another would, perhaps, give them more disgraceful names. 

Alonzo. Lopez ! 

Lopez. Pardon, my Lord, but I cannot tarry. Go; par- 
take of the phantasies and enthusiasm of a weak old man, 
while I set out to Tarik. I shall not bring with me the sup- 
port of a noble name, but in its place my life and the assist- 
ance of my arms. What is my country to me? My country 
lies wherever I may be. 

Pedrillo. (Louder.) My Lord! 

Alonzo. If it were not for Pelagius — 

Pedrillo. (Louder.) My Lord! 

Alonzo. (Quickly.) Fool! what do you wish now? 

Pedrillo. Is it possible! Again! For a long time I've 
been called nothing but fool! Pedrillo and fool, I think, 
must mean about the same! But I don't care. 

Alonzo. Well? 

Pedrillo. Well, then, I'd sooner you'd say, " Hold, Pe- 
drillo, you are a fool," than receive five hundred lashes; 
and, if one might judge by the blows of a sabre, they'll make 
a fellow jump. That's what I've got to say! 

Alonzo. Babbler, you'll make me lose my patience! 

Pedrillo. Babbler — that is to say, my Lord, that I like 
to profit by the gifts of nature, and that she having given me 
a tongue, I believe in using it at every opportunity. Gently, 
gently, my Lord; don't get angry; you see I came for your 

answer to Lord O — Lord— NarifF, CarifF, RatifF. — I don't 

remember that queer name. 

Alonzo. An answer to Tarik (reflecting). 

Pedrillo. Yes, my Lord, if it was simply not longer 
than that 'twould be the same to me, only I'll get five hun- 
dred lashes across the back if I don't bring it; and that, you 
see, is something, not minding that he said to me " Dog," 

Alonzo. Lopez, tell me what shall I do? What answer 
shall I make? 

Lopez. Why ask me, my Lord? my counsels have failed 
to ruin you. 

Pedrillo. Without minding that he said to me "Dog," 



20 THE MALEDICTION. 

because you see, my Lord, when he speaks to his friends 

Alonzo. Begone! and await my orders. [To Lopez.) 
Lopez, you are cruel! 

Lopez. To-morrow night you will be with Pelagius. 

Alonzo. With Pelagius! I know not what demon in- 
spires you! Must that execrable name ring forever in my 
ears? 

Lopez. Is not your resolution taken? And what a tri- 
umph for your enemy! He will have conquered; you will 
have bowed before him. Go, my Lord Alonzo, go! Re- 
join him whom, unworthy, you have helped to raise to the 
throne; follow in his suite, and increase the number of his 
cringing courtiers. 

Alonzo. Peace! You but add fire to my anger. You in- 
crease my rage! You wish to crush me! You seek nothing 
but my ruin! Lopez! Lopez! what can you mean? Alonzo 
de Gomez wear the turban, and, beneath the crescent, 
combat the people to whom he was called to give laws! 

Lopez. Farewell, my Lord; I leave you. 

Alonzo. Lopez! Lopez! you have triumphed! I will 
go with you — I will bear arms against my country and my 
father. Are you satisfied? [Aside.) Against my God! 
[Aloud.) Lopez, call that man! (PEDKiLLoe«tox) Peasant, 
remain here for an instant and I will be with you. ( 7o Lo- 
pez). Come, Lopez, I wish you to dictate a reply; sustain 
my courage, and assist me to consummate my crime. [Ex- 
eunt, L. 2 E.) 

Pedrillo. Well, good heavens! what a sorrowful air 
Don Alonzo wears! Who knows? perhaps that's the way he 
has of showing his good humor. But characters can't change 
themselves that way at pleasure; they're not like other things. 
I wish he'd give me an answer; because, know you that — 
that is — well, it would be terrible bad luck if I'd fall 
into the hands of those Mahometans, and then have 
them say to me, in a friendly way, " Dog, stand there and let 
us take the measure of your back five hundred times with the 
lash of our whip." Oh! I fancy it all so well that I can 
now perceive all the bushes and trees on the way transformed 
into the bearded Mahometans to take part in the farce. 

(Lopez and Aloxzo enter, l. 2 E., and cross the stage.) 



THE MALEDICTION'. 



Lopez. Yes, my Lord, it is better that we should flee this 
instant; the deepening shades will shroud us, and in a few 
hours we shall safely reach the camp of Tarik. {Exeunt, 

R. 2 E.) 

Pedrillo. Ha, ha! there they go, without speaking to 
me; and, clearing off, intend to leave me here. Eh? and, as I 
live, they take the path that leads to the Mahometans; they 

argue with the sentinel who opposes them O God ! Lopez 

has struck him with apoignard! Where shall I run! Help! 
Murder! Help! {Enter Don Vasco and Mendoza, l. 2 e., 
with soldiers, in disorder.} 

Don V. What has happened? What means this alarm? 

Pedrillo. Help! Help! Lopez — Sancho — the Ma- 
hometans—five hundred blows with the flat of a sabre — look, 
look! {Points after Lopez. Exit Mendoza, r. 2 e.) 

Don V. Where? What? 

Pedrillo. O! don't touch me! {Rims in terror to other 
side of stage.) I didn't do it, — I assure you I didn't! 

Don V. Explain yourself; have you lost your head? 

Pedrillo. My head? No, it's here yet; I haven't lost it. 
What do you want to do with my head, sir? 

Don V. The man is a fool. Soldiers, seize him. 

Pedrillo. ( On his knees') I beg of you! I beseech you 
do not kill me, and I will never do it again. {Enter Men- 
doza, r. 1 E.) 

Mendoza. My God! My Lord! Sancho lies murdered 
below, bathed in his blood. The stiletto buried in his breast 
bears the name cf Lopez. 

Don V. O God! Where is my son? To arms! brave 
comrades, to arms! Mendoza, our swiftest horses! quick! 
To arms! To arms! 

End of the First Act. 



ACT SECOND. 



SCENE I. 



Interior of the Moorish Palace. 



[Ibrahim and Juanino discovered ; Ibrahim seated Turk- 
ish fashion, and meditating. Juanino stands near him.'] 

Juanino. Why, my Lord, are you always thus buried 
in grief? 

Ibrahim. You know well, Juanino, that for a long time 
the virtue of the Christians has made a deep impression on 
my heart. In secret, I have studied profoundly their sacred 
books; I have compared their dogmas with those of our 
Prophet; I have read, and I have doubted. (Hises.) I 
believe that our Mahomet was but a base impostor, whose 
only ambition was to tyrannize over his fellow-men, — an in- 
strument of Heaven sent upon earth to punish the impiety of 
mortals! I believe that Christ is God; and that to Christians 
the sacred truths of Heaven have fallen as an inheritance. 

Juanino. Do not doubt it, mv Lord; but my poor igno- 
rance will only serve to compromise, in your eyes, the religion 
that I would defend. May I bring a holy priest to visit 
you? Disguised as an Arab, and an Infidel, he will gain 
admittance to your chamber. Question him. Make known 
to him your doubts; he will remove them, and illumine in 
you the light of true faith: he will crown my earthly desires 
in making you a Christian. 

Ibrahim. Know you not the laws that govern us? 

Juanino. I know, mv Lord, that cruel tortures lie in store 
for me, if discovered. 

Ibrahim. But are there indeed priests among you? 

Juanino. They are ever to be found where there is good 
to be done. 

Ibrahim. And do they not fear the laws against them? 

Juanino. Life is nothing to them when a soul is at stake. 
Oh! if you had known them; if you had only seen them! 
Once before Toledo the army of Mahomet, under Tarik, 
took the Christians by surprise, and made us all prisoners. 



THE MALEDICTION. 23 

We were thrown into a narrow dung-eon, heaped one upon the 
other, deprived of all nourishment for whole days, or fed 
with garbage the swine would refuse. A devouring plague 
soon made its appearance in our midst. Our hearts were 
bowed down with grief; the sick expired writhing in the 
agonies of dark despair, cursing the life that God had given 
them, cursing Tarik who mocked them in their torments, and 
even cursing the Eternal Author of their being. With dis- 
torted features, eyes starting from their sockets, and bosoms 
palpitating with agony, devoured by an intolerable thirst that 
a few di'ODS of stagnant water had only increased, we sat 
upon the corpses of our companions awaiting the dread mo- 
ment when death should strike ourselves. Notwithstanding 
the horror of our miseries, everywhere vividly portrayed, 
our priests, hidden in the neighboring fields, knowing that in 
our midst were great sufferings to be alleviated, did not hesi- 
tate to seek an entrance into our dungeon. Why should they 
fear danger? Did not their Divine Master die for them? 
With gold they opened our prison doors; they consoled us in 
our grief; they calmed our sorrow, and reminded us that 
heaven would be the reward of our sufFei'ings. Death's sting 
lost all its bitterness, slavery became sweet to us, and the 
pest quickly ceased its awful ravages. Strong, with God as 
our protector, and resigned to His laws, we bore with cour- 
age all the indignities that could be heaped upon us. But 
the vengeance of God was not yet satisfied, and Heaven 
chose another from us as its victim — one of our holy priests, 
worn out in his zeal for our eternal welfare. " My children," 
said he, a short time before his death, as he witnessed our 
grief, "why do you weep? why do you ask our Eternal 
Father to grant me, a miserable sinner, a longer life? Is it 
not sweet to give up life for a brother? " Thus do you find 
our priests: in the hour of danger they are never wanting. 

Ibrahim. Juanino, be my brother; I wish to become a 
Christian. From this moment, my only desire is to see the 
minister of the Most High. I wish to open my heart to him. 

Juanino. My Lord, persevere; your slave will go and 
find him. 

Ibrahim. Speak. of slave, no longer, Juanino! You and 
I, henceforth, are brothers. Listen, now, to what I intend 
to do. You know my great influence in the palace; you 
know, too, the numerous friends I have outside its walls, 



24 THE MALEDICTION. 

Well, then, these friends I wish to use to restore liberty to 
the unfortunate Christians, whom yesterday the fortunes of 
war placed in our hands. I know well to what evil influ- 
ences they are exposed, and I wish to snatch them from the 
dangers which menace them, and I myself will i~eturn with 
them to their country. Go, prepare our arms. But, first, 
tell me, Juanino, who is that cavalier who fought under our 
flag and guided our soldiers against the Christians. His vizor 
was lowered, and I could not see his features. 

Juanino. That man, whom Tarik has named Almanzor, 
is the son of Gomez, one of the bravest cavaliers to whom 
Spain has ever given birth. That is what I heard from one 
of the slaves of the seraglio this morning. 

Ibrahim. What! this man a Christian, and fighting against 
his brothers! 

Juanino. Alas, he is a Christian no longer, my Lord. 
But, here comes Tarik ; let us retire, my Lord, and devise 
some means to rescue the Christians from the dangers that 
threaten them. ( Exeunt}. 

[Enter Tarik, Alonzo, nozv called Almanzor, and 
Lopez). 

Tarik. You have fought bravely, Almanzor! My eyes 
did not leave you for an instant, and, without doubt, to you 
belongs the honor of routing the infidels. May the blessing 
of the Prophet be upon you! The success we have obtained 
to-day must have but happy results. Pelagius, reduced to 
his last resources, will soon be forced to submit; if he dares 
to resist longer, we will pursue him into the midst of his 
mountain fastnesses; we will track him like a wild beast into 
the most inaccessible strongholds, and will efface proud, 
haughty Spain from the number of Christian nations. Al- 
manzor, your zeal merits a most worthy recompense. Your 
noble birth entitled you to a throne which just now fell be- 
neath your feet, and I, the lieutenant of the " Father of. the 
Faithful," wish to return to you what you have lost. The 
kingdom of Murcia, conquered by our brave soldiers, awaits 
a sovereign; go, Almanzor, place its crown upon your brow; 
and, all honor to the King of Murcia! 

Alonzo. My Lord, so much goodness 

Tarik. Should be repaid with a worthy devotedness. 
To-morrow, Almanzor, you will go to take possession of 



THE MALEDICTION. 25 

your crown; but, hark you! remember, the hand that con- 
ferred the crown can also take it again. Remember that, 
surrounded by the emissaries of Tarik, not one of your actions, 
nor a single thought, will be unknown to him. Reign justly, 
propagate the religion of Mahomet, and crush out Christianity. 
It is in the blood of Christian dogs you should blot out the 
cross imprinted by them on your forehead at your birth. 

Aloxzo. My Lord, the rank to which you deign to call 
me is sufficient, without doubt, to satisfy the most unbounded 
ambition ; but, excuse my boldness, the open distrust which 
you show to me detracts much from the brilliance of the 
crown which you offer. And what! is not my honor pledged? 

Tarik. Almanzor! Almanzor! he who denies his God 
has little honor! (Aloxzo starts.) But throw aside these 
trivial griefs, which time will soften, and which emulous 
courtiers will soon cause you to forget. You know, Alman- 
zor, the adversaries against whom you fought. Tell me the 
name of the warrior, in burnished armor, who wore a heavy 
helmet with jet-black plume, and who created such disorder 
in our ranks! 

Aloxzo. O God! I know too well! 

Tarik. It was- — — 

Aloxzo. It was — my father! 

Tarik. {Smiling ironically.') Your father! I congra- 
tulate you, Almanzor. He has fallen into our hands, and no 
doubt will find in you a powerful protector. 

Aloxzo. My Lord, it is now that I am entirely yours; 
it is now indeed that my treasures, my sword, my life belong 
to you. You will give my father his freedom, you will spare 
him all suffering? 

Tarik. You deceive yourself, Almanzor. You know 
the laws of the Prophet. I cannot infringe them: for the 
poor, slavery; for the noble, abjuration or death. 

Aloxzo. Death! 

Tarik. But you, faithful believer, can easily prevail upon 
your father to cast aside your religion. You can employ 
about him all the means that filial affection may inspire. If 
the abjuration of the son merited a kingdom, judge what re- 
ward will be given to the father. I leave you, Almanzor, 
but will soon return to treat of the Murcian kingdom and our 
prisoners. [Exit). 



26 



THE MALEDICTION. 



Alonzo. A curse upon me! A curse upon the day that 
gave me birth! A curse upon all that surrounds me! — upon 
you, Lopez; upon you, who urged me on to the awful preci- 
pice, and plunged me headlong into the bottomless abyss of 
crime. Be thou too cursed, O fatal ambition! that has armed 
me against my father, against my country, and, oh, horror ! 
against my God ! 

Lopez. {Looking timidly about and speaking low.) 
Speak low, my Lord; your loud voice may ruin us. Every 
passage of the palace is guarded by slaves who will hear us. 

Alonzo. What care I for life, since all else, honor and 
name, are gone! 

Lopez. In one instant we may lose the entire confidence 
of Tarik. 

Alonzo. The confidence of Tarik! Did you not hear 
him say, L >pez, that he who denies his God has little 
honor ? Do not these words strike you most forcibly ? 
Do they not indicate at what a fearful price I have bought 
my kingdom ? For it I have sacrificed religion, honor, 
country! I have given up my father to certain death. Oh! 
father, did you but know the warrior who led the infidel 
hosts was your only son, what agony would you not feel! 
lie will not abjure his God; he will rather die; and 'tis I 
who have bowed his head beneath the scimitar! If he could 
not recognize me! Should he see me he would die of grief. 
{Buries his face in his hands.) 

Lopez. Be calm, my Lord. I sympathize in your grief, 
but I understand how vain are your regrets. The curses 
with which you have loaded me do not astonish, nor do they 
terrify. Your blessings will take their place when you are 
at length securely seated on the throne of Murcia; and when 
surrounded by brave subjects, the master of untold treasures, 
you can defv with impunity the power of the caliphs, over- 
turn their authority, and rise greater from their ruin. 

Alonzo. Tarik was right; do you perceive it, Lopez? 
What cares he for an oath, who has no God? To him 'tis 
but an empty form of speech, that but a breath will scatter. 
You speak of Murcia, and your idea delights me, Lopez. 
Yes, let us be conspirators; let us overturn the power of 
those whose success lies solelv in our hands. (Noise of a 
whip.) But what noise is that? 



THE MALEDICTION. 2>7 

{Enter Pedrillo, Abdallah, and Spanish captives.') 

Abdallah. March on, dogs; inarch! ( Gives Pedrillo 
a blow which makes him jump.) 

Pedrillo. Ow! Take care, Mr. Mahometan; I've got 
a delicate skin, and your old whip hurts unmercifully; and, 
look here, if you don't quit I'll 

Abdallah. Silence, dog! 

Pedrillo. (Aside.) How ill-bred are these Mahometans ! 
How strikingly good education is theirs! 

Alonzo. (Eagerly.) Are these your only captives, 
Abdallah ? 

Abdallah. No, my Lord; these are but the rabble. 

Pedrillo. Well now, as I live, this is a farce! There's 
a Mahometan that looks for all the world like Don Alonzo, 
and the lantern-jawed creature with him must be Lopez. 

Abdallah. (To Pedrillo.) Is that your place, dog? 
(Strikes him with whip.) 

Pedrillo. (Rubbing himself.) Confound you, for a 
mule; to strike me who never touched you! 

Abdallah. What do you say, dog? 

Pedrillo. I tell you again, I'm saying nothing. (Aside.) 
Big fool! 

Juanino. (Enters.) My Lord, the king of Murcia and 
you, his trusted attendant, Tarik, the light of our eyes, the 
glory of the world, and the strength of the caliph, desires 
your presence. (Exeunt Alonzo, Lopez, and Juanino.) 

Abdallah. Dogs, stop here, and do not move a step till 
my return. I am going to receive the orders of my gracious 
master, Tarik. (Exit). 

Pedrillo. Yes, go and get your orders from the grand 
Tariff, but let them be to give us something to eat, for, 
zounds! I'm as hungry as a beggar, and haven't eaten any- 
thing since last night when I dined most humbly on a miser- 
able roast sparrow. No wonder then I feel hungry — awfullv 
hungry. ( To the other prisoners.) Eh! And why do you 
stand there, with your thumbs in your mouths, and not a 
word nor a laugh out of you ? I know, though, why you 
don't laugh; but then 

Marietto. Is slavery nothing to you, Pedrillo? 



20 THE MALEEICTION. 

Pedrillo. Well, it's not very amusing; but if one wears 
a most miserable countenance it will not change the affair. 
But, you see, if you were only men we could try to save our- 
selves; for myself, anyway, I'll start; there's no one near. 
Good-by! 

Juanino. {Enters and stops Pedrillo.) You cannot 
pass! 

Pedrillo. And why not? 

Juanino. Because no one can pass, dog! {Threatens 
Pedrillo with sabre.) 

Pedrillo. {Frightened^) O heavens! another of the cut- 
throats, who sport their big knives without regard to the fact 
that they might take a fellow's life! And that "Dog" 
again. It seems to me they know nothing but that. And 
it appears that when a person is taken a prisoner, he is free. 

Marietto. Your idea is excellent, Pedrillo! ^Yes, we 
ought to endeavor to escape. What think you, comrades? 

Juanino. Silence, soldiers, a friend watches over you. 
If God favor our project we will soon rejoin Pelagius; but, 
if our days are numbered, rather die than live a tyrant's 
slaves ! 

Marietto. What say you, slave? 

Juanino. Sh-sh! Patience and courage! {Exit.) 

Marietto. If Don Vasco was only with us, his courage 
and prudence 

Pedrillo. Ah! that's true; he's a famous chap — this 
Don Vasco! Holy saint! when I saw him sweep down on 
those surly Mahometans and cleave their heads right through 
all the miserable wrappings twisted around them, I hid my- 
self behind a bush to save my own. 

Marietto. What! fled, — and you a Spaniard? Shame! 

Pedrillo. Yes, that's so. But, you see, when I'm alone 
I'm a regular lion for courage. Enemies! oh! if I had a 
dozen, a hundred of them now, I think I'd crush them; I'd 
pulverize them — grind them to atoms! But then when I get 
a look at them, I don't know why, yet, all at once, I feel as 
harmless as a poor old sheejD. It's not funny, eh? But 
what 

Marietto. Some one is watching us; silence, babbler! 



THE MALEDICTION. 29 

Comrades, let us appear resigned to our evil fortune! Men- 
doza, come, give us one of your stirring melodies. 

Mendoza. Yes, Marietto; gayety on our lips and burn- 
ing rage within our hearts. 

Oh! what to us is Dame Fortune's deceit; 

Gay soldiers like us can laugh at her wiles; 
And our jokes can our laughter repeat, 

And mock at her tears and her smiles. 



But when Vengeance' dread day doth appear, 
Like men made of steel we'll arise, 

Our lances with gore we'll besmear 
And the rage of proud tyrants despise. 



Butyester'n Spain's soldier was I; 

A slave of the Sultan to-day; 
In slavery no change I descry — 

What matters it whom I obey ! 



For honors and wealth let men sigh, 

It may pain them to see them all vanish; 
But we, with our hearts beating high, 
Far away every care we shall banish. 
Fra-la-la-la; la-la-la; la-la-la; 
Fra-la-la-la; la-la-la; la-la-la! 

Pedrillo. By my faith it is truly nice, this song (shouts): 
La-la-la-la. {Enter Abdallah, Alonzo, and Lopez.) 

Abdallah. Silence, dogs! (To Alonzo.) I go, my 
Lord, to bring hither the prisoner I hold confined. Exit.) 

Alonzo. And this is Tank's desire! Seduce my father! 
Oh! if I could disguise myself beneath these garments; if I 
could keep from him my name, — hide my birth! Vain delu- 
sions! Disguise myself from my father! Oh, awful mo- 
ment! Can I dare to look upon him! Yet I must; for 'tis 
I alone can save him! — save him! Abjuration or death! 
Oh, God! I hear his footsteps; whither can I fly! (Enter 
Abdallah and Don Vasco.) 

Abdallah. This way, prisoner; Lord Almanzor waits 
to speak with you. 

Don Vasco. Let hirn speak. 



30 THE MALEDICTION. 

Alonzo. ( With averted head.) Fortune, my Lord, has 
proved very unfavorable to you. 

Don Vasco. Great God! that voice! — those features! 

Alonzo. Are the features of your son. 

Don Vasco. (Surprised.) No; my eyes deceive me! 
A deceitful phantasm imposes upon me ! You cannot be the 
son of Gomez! He never wore the turban of the Arabs! 
He never clothed himself with the insignia of Mahomet- 
anism! Begone, impostor! and, if to tempt me you have 
brought the features of my son to your aid, you will not 
succeed. 

Alonzo. My Lord, hear me. Think of your own life 
and mine. 

Don Vasco. Spaniards, approach! Behold this man! 
He is at liberty, and I am in chains! he is a Mahometan, and 
I am a Christian, — and he calls himself my son! Do you 
believe him? 

Alonzo. Father! 

Don Vasco. Impostor, profane not that name! I your 
father! Great God! were it so, I would say "miserable 
wretch! are you my son, and dare you present yourself be- 
fore me covered with the livery of infamy!" But you do 
not know that I would call upon you the wrath of God! 
No, you are not my son! Your features, your voice, are 
those of Alonzo, and your carriage is his. But your name is 
Almanzor. Your faith is not mine. My sovereign is Pela- 
gius; yours, the leader of the cursed tribe of Mahomet, — and 
you call yourself my son! Speak, Almanzor; your pi-isoner 
listens. 

Alonzo. My Lord, why do you maintain this apparent 
ignorance? Why do you seem to doubt that I am your son? 

Don Vasco. You wish it, Almanzor; therefore I con- 
sent. Be then my son. But thus the roles are changed, and 
you will listen while I speak. Son of Gomez, listen then, 
and answer the inquiries of your judge. 

Alonzo. Slaves, withdraw. 

Don Vasco. No, their place is here! They are all 
Spaniards, and are not slaves. 

Alonzo. But, mv Lord, will you humiliate me before 
them? 



THE MALEDICTION. 3 1 

Don Vasco. If you are not my son, what signifies their 
presence? But, if you are, then should you be proud to stand 
in their midst! Never, in the history of our fathers, has a 
Gomez been known to be afraid to speak with perfect free- 
dom, and never has he blushed before his own. Again, I 
say, if you are my son, answer me, then, your father. Let 
not the presence of these noble Spaniards bind your tongue; 
before them you must justify yourself. What do you do, 
how came you here, and why linger in this den of iniquity? 
Whence comes all your power? Tell me, O son of Gomez, 
tell me, where is your grand old faith? and why, deserting 
the banner of Pelagius, are you found commanding the 
legions of infidel Tarik? 

Alonzo. This, my Lord, is not the moment for a reply. 
An imminent danger threatens you; your lot is cast between 
abjuration and death. 

Don Vasco [calmly). Think you my choice is doubtful? 
Alonzo. My Lord, for the sake of your son, you must 
abjure your God. 

Don Vasco [coolly). I must abjure! Indeed! And 
what, then, would be the reward of my criminal compliance? 
Alonzo. [Aside.) He is won! {Aloud.) Power, honor 
and, perhaps, a crown. 

Don Vasco. And you, who call yourself my son, what 
have you received? 

Alonzo. I am king of Murcia. 

Don Vasco. Behold, then, the mystery. [Rises iron- 
ically.) Hail, king of Murcia! Llail, son of Gomez! [In- 
dignantly.) O Heaven! what am I saying? Wretch, you 
bear my name, and can behold without a blush the shame of 
your aged father! Soldiers, take me awav! there is not the 
shadow of a tie between this man and me; take me away, 1 
say! 

Alonzo. My Lord! 
Don Vasco. Take me away! 

Alonzo. [Palling at his feet.) My Lord, at your feet 
behold your unhappy son. 

Don Vasco. Cease, wretch, to call yourself thus. Do you 
wish to be my son? Break, then, your tinsel crown; trample 
beneath your feet that hateful turban; cry out aloud: "I am a 



32 THE MALEDICTION. 



Christian; I abhor Mahomet; I curse his birth!" But you 
do not speak; you cringe at my feet, and lick their dust. 

Alonzo. Too late! my Lord; it is now too late! 

Don Vasco. Too late, infamous wretch! Begone, ser- 
pent! that I have nourished but to destroy me. Take from 
me my feeble remnant of life that I may never more behold 
your hated countenance. Traitor to your God, be you cursed 
by him as by your heart-broken father. {Exit. Alonzo 
falls on his face.") 

All. Great God! [Enter Lopez.) 

Lopez. (Raising Alonzo.) My Lord, arise; away from 
this rabble! We will again endeavor to calm his wrath. 

Aloxzo. [Looks about bewildered.) Ah! 'tis you, my 
dear Lopez. My father has cursed me, and his anathema has 
penetrated the marrow of my bones. Where is my father? 
He has not yet been put to death? What do you wish, Tarik? 
I was the son of Gomez, but thou call'st me A.manzor. I am 
king of Murcia! Let the people offer me homage. Prostrate 
at my feet, I wisn to behold them from the summit of my 
throne. What have I said, Lopez? Ha, ha, ha! {Laughs 
wildly.) Have you seen Pelagius? I will bathe myself in 
his vile blood; I will plunge my hand into the depths of his 
entrails; I will crush his hoary head. How beautiful arc the 
heavens; Mahomet alone is great! Why, then, Abdallah, did 
you not efface these crosses from the walls? I was also a 
Christian! Why does this awful cross arise before my eyes? 
I see — I see the Immaculate Virgin trampling the crescent 
beneath her feet — and now! oh, hence! awful vision; hence! 
Ah! Lopez, do you see the hand that threatens me? You, 
also, does it menace. Come! away! Let us flee? — O God! 
upon the air, upon the walls, upon my heart is written : 
"Cursed! cursed! cursed!" (Exeunt Aloxzo and Lopez.) 

Pedrillo. Ha, ha! there's not much fun there. But what 
did he want to make so many faces for? and then cry out 
that he saw something most horrible? I don't see anything 
written on the walls. I think he's either crazy or drunk. 

Abdallah. That's very well, but it's none of your busi- 
ness. (To the prisoners.) Come here, dogs! 

Pedrillo. (Aside.) Well, he is an unmannerly rascal. 
Oh! you ugly thief, if ever I get you in a pinch, and nobody 
bkat the two of us there — God help you J 



THE MALEDICTION. 33 

Abdallah. My sovereign lord, the pearl of the East, 
the conqueror Tarik, is on his way hither. You have your 
choice: Be Mahometans, or work in the mines. Come, 
come! decide quickly! 

All. We choose the mines. 

Abdallah. Hey! You do not think of what you do! 

All. We are all Christians. 

Abdallah. Five hundred lashes for the first who dares 
again to pronounce that name. 

Pedrillo. (Aside.) They don't know how to count 
unless hy five hundred ! But perhaps there is a means of 
making it good. 

Abdallah. You have considered? 

All. Yes, yes! 

Pedrillo. That is 

Abdallah. What? 

Pedrillo. That is, my Lord Abradra,- that is,- 

that 

Abdallah. Do you know that my patience is sorely 
tried, and I wouldn't hesitate to lop off your head for the 
pleasure of sharpening my cimitar. 

Pedrillo. Gently, gently, Lord Abraca. (Aside.) The 
old fool speaks only of cutting and chopping as if he took 
poor suffering humanity for an old pumpkin. 

Abdallah. Will you be quick? 

Pedrillo. Yes, yes, my Lord; don't get angry. I 
wished to say if it was convenient to arrange our affair nicely 
and friendly between us two, as they say, that that 

Abdallah. Well! 

Pedrillo. Well, yes; that if, instead of sending me to 
the mines — for, you see, that wouldn't suit me at all, because 
they say there is no light there, and, in fact, the light and I 
have always been accustomed to live together; that one with- 
out the other — that is, that one after the other — that one for 
the other — yes, just so, you understand 

Abdallah. Yes, I understand that my patience is all 
gone. Do you wish to become a Mahometan or remain a 
Christian. Come, speak! 

Pedrillo. Well, you know, if there were any means of 



34 THE MALEDICTION. 

being a Mahometan and remaining a Christian at the same 
time, that would suit me pretty well; something just in the 

middle of the two; eh! 

Abdallah. Back, dog! Behold the great Tarik ap- 
proaching. 

(Enter Tarik with Lopez, now called Soliman.) 

Tarik. What say you, Soliman? I cannot believe it: 
Almanzor insane! 

Lopez. He is, my Lord. His father, driven on by anger, 
poured upon him a most crushing anathema. Thunder- 
stricken by the words of malediction, we saw him fall to the 
earth. After raising him, he at first seemed to find himself 
surrounded by crosses, and then the exclamation "Cursed!" 
became ever present to his disordered sight. But, my Lord, 
the throne of Murcia is again vacant, Almanzor can no 
longer think or act; and, if you would deign to confer it upon 
me 

Tarik. /give you a kingdom, Lopez! Are you mad! 

Lopez. Great devotedness, — a zeal beyond every proof, 
— a strict observance of the laws of Mahomet, — a 

Tarik. A strict observance of the laws of Mahomet! 
You astonish me, Lopez. You, a good Mahometan! No; 
I do not believe it. 

Lopez. Is it necessary, my Lord, to prove my devoted- 
ness? 

Tarik. I believe you capable of trampling on the Cross, 
of desecrating the churches, and of burning the sacred shrines 
of the Christians. You were always, I know, a very bad 
Christian, but a good Mahometan! I doubt it very much. 
Think you, you can deceive me? Believe you that I have 
grown old in observing, without knowing the nature of men? 
Your god is ambition; your faith, nothing, — and you ask a 
throne! Foolish man! A traitor to your God, a traitor to 
your king, — are you then worthy to wear a crown? Listen, 
Lopez, and know that a traitor is a villain who parts with his 
faith at the first favorable opportunity; whom one caresses 
while he suits his purpose, but throws aside, when useless, as 
a bruised and broken reed. 

Lopez. Nevertheless, Alonzo, too, was a traitor. 

Tarik. Think you I respect him? 



THE MALEDICTION. 35 

Lopez. He had a kingdom. 

Tarik. But he sprang from a family of kings, and could 
longer serve our interests. Do you know that, Lopez, or 
rather Soliman? And, now, do you wish me to read your 
thoughts? You long to betray us. 

Lopez. Who told you that, my lord? 

Tarik. Who told me! My good judgment, — your face, 
— your embarrassment, — your interest, — your past conduct! 
But you are constantly watched. 

Lopez. Tarik, beware! 

Tarik. Cease your mean insolence; I will spit upon your 
vile carcass. Soldiers, watch him carefully. 

Lopez. Behold my reward. (A slave enters. Tarik 
motions to Lopez to withdraw.') 

Slave. {To Tarik, in a low voice.) Light of our eyes, 
a plot is formed to deliver the infidels whom you have taken 
prisoners. Guard yourself, my lord. God alone is great and 
Mahomet is His prophet! 

Tarik. A plot! Ah, well! I'll foil their project. 

Alonzo. {Enters.) I have been looking for you, Tarik. 

Do you know he has cursed me? You know my father? 

He will not abjure his God; he will die for his faith. If you 
wish, Tarik, take back your kingdom. I will not be a king 
any longer. I am Pelagius. Come, let us all adore the 
Cross. Look, father, I have returned to the faith; I am a 
Christian. Father, clasp me once again to your paternal 
heart ! 

Tarik. Back, fool! 

Alonzo. 'Tis true, I'm cursed, cursed! 

Tarik. {Reflecting.) 1 must overthrow their plot. If 
I could only win this obstinate old man to our cause! I must 
question him; if he resist, let him die! What! But what is 
the blood of an infidel to me! Abdallah, let Don Vasco 
appear! (Tarik seats himself. E?iter Don Vasco. 
Guards surround him.) 

Don Vasco. You seek in vain to terrify me. 

Tarik. Silence! You will speak when I question you. 

Don Vasco. I am ready. 



36 THE MALEDICTION. 

Tarik. Why, abusing your power over your vassals, 
have you engaged them to fight against the soldiers of the 
true God? 

Don Vasco. The true God is not He of whom Mahomet 
has spoken. 

Tarik. Why have you yourself borne aloft a proscribed 
banner, and stricken the only true believers? 

Don Vasco. Those whom I have stricken are miscreants; 
they are the enemies of my country and my faith. 

Tarik. Who are you who speak to me thus? 

Don Vasco. I am Don Vasco de Gomez, a Spaniard 
and a Christian. 

Tarik. Know you my power? Know you who I am? 

Don Vasco. You may kill me; your name is Tarik; 
you have covered my unhappy country with ruins; you are 
drenched with the purest blood of Spain; your soldiers are 
cruel brigands, and you, — you are their chief. 

Tarik. Wretched slave, do you dare to insult me? 

Don Vasco. There is no slavery for a Christian. 

Tarik. I will tear out your tongue, and destroy your 
eyes ! 

Don Vasco. What care I for my body, if I but save my 
soul? 

Tarik. Senseless man! Vasco, reflect a moment. Listen: 
— join our ranks and save your life. 

Don Vasco. Life is nothing to me. 

Tarik. You will live surrounded by a world of wealth 
and honors. 

Don Vasco. Will earthly honors follow me to heaven? 

Tarik. You will gain a crown. 

Don Vasco. Is it as brilliant as that which my God re- 
serves for His elect? 

Tarik. Your faith is folly. 

Don Vasco. That folly has saved the world. 

Tarik. You think, perhaps, obstinate old man as you are, 
that a speedy death will give you, without pain, that crown 
that your fanatic zeal promises you. But you are mistaken. I 
will crush your proud spirit with the greatest tortures; I will 






THE MALEDICTION. 37 

place you on a funeral pyre, and, having caused you to suffer 
a thousand torments, I will burn your body to a cinder upon 
the slowest of fires. 

Don Vasco. I am a Christian! 

Tarik. Yield, miserable man! Continue obstinate, and I 
will throw the whole troop of these thy companions to the 
fury of the bloody executioner. 

Don Vasco. Spaniards, what is your counsel? 

All. We are Christians. 

Tarik. Dogs! you shall all die! Guards, away with 
them! ( To Don Vasco.) You also shall die! Upon your 
torn and bleeding heart I will vent my rage. Cry aloud 
" Cursed be Christ," or die! 

Don Vasco. Must I again repeat, Tarik, " I am a Chris- 
tian ! " 

Tarik. Away to the torture with him! 

Alonzo. {Throwing himself towards Don V asco.) My 
father! Oh! where do you drag him? 

Tarik. To death! 

Don Vasco. {Repelling Alonzo.) To eternal glory! 

(Abdallah and Soldiers surround Don Vasco, who 

walks slowly, but with firm step, and head erect.) 

Tableau. 



ACT THIRD. 

Village of Asturia. 

SCENE I. 

(Fabricio, Pedro and Peasants.) 

Pedro. Rejoice, my good friends. Pelagius has defeated 
the Mahometans again. The soldiers of Tarik, continually 
opposed and pursued, abandon their conquests. God is for 
us, my good friends, and protects our beloved Spain. Fabri- 
cio, go draw a bottle of our finest wine, that we may drink 



38 THE MALEDICTION. 

to the success of our arms and the return of my poor Pedrillo, 
for whose safety I begin to fear. 

Fabrico. Yes, that's so. To the return of my brother 
Pedrillo I'll go and open a bottle of wine, but of the best 
kind I know. 

Pedro. Well, hurry up, you lazy rascal. 

Fabricio. Hurry up! faster; don't you see I'm running. 
[Exit very slowly.) 

{Enter Alonzo at the back of the stage, clothed grotesquely, 
ragged, with paleface and haggard eyes. ) 

Pedro. (Addressing Alonzo.) Come, my poor fellow; 
come you too and be merry, if it be possible for you. Well, 
one must indeed be very unhappy when he has so far lost his 
reason as not to know that he is spoken to. (Alonzo ap- 
proaches without speaking.) 

Fabricio. {Returning.) Here it is; and famous wine, 
too. (To the Peasants.) Come on, friends. Oh! here he 
is again — that fellow, with his awful eyes! He frightens me 
whenever I look at him. 

Alonzo. (To Pedro.) Good day, father. I am very 
hungry. 

Pedro. You will have something to eat, then, my poor 
boy. 

Fabricio. Yes, yes, just like you, father; not a poor old 
beggar comes along but must eat our bread. 

Alonzo. ( To Fabricio.) You never knew hunger, 
young man! You were never weary and faint, dying for a 
morsel of bread. You are light-hearted and happy. 

Fabricio. I'm never hungry! Certainly; I'm always, 
when I'm a good while without anything to eat. But that is 
not a reason that 

Alonzo. That I am hungry; is it not? 

Fabricio. Certainly; any one 

Pedro. Silence, Fabricio; respect the misery of this poor 
man! Come, Fernando; come, my boy, stop with me. I'm 
not rich, but while our good Lord and the Mahometans leave 
me a crust of bread, you will share it with me. 

Fabricio. Yes, just so! And what will you do with your 
own children? 



THE MALEDICTION. 



39 



Pedro. Be quiet, I tell you! 

Fabricio. But 

Pedro. Silence! or I'll pull your ears. 

Fabricio. (7e> Alonzo.) Oh! you'll pay for this, you 
crazy fool! Why didn't you stay at home in your kingdom, 
you ugly beggar? (Pedro steps toward him, and Fabricio 
runs aivay.) 

Alonzo. True, why did I leave my kingdom! [7o 
Pedro. 1 What! Lopez, you near me! Where are my cour- 
tiers? Let pleasure reign throughout the palace! Call my 
slaves! Away; prepare a gorgeous banquet, and let the 
merry laugh resound throughout our halls! For you know, 
Lopez, my heart is broken and I am forever miserable! Why 
are these walls draped with black? Bah! Begone, Lopez! 
I am going back to my father! Hark! hear his footsteps 
echoing through that vaulted passage-way! There, there, I 
see his shining armor! He approaches, — he commands me to 
stand. I will obey! Father, I stand, — but approach, approach. 
Father, come and bless thy son. O God! I see but a horrible 
spectre, that trembles with rage, that shakes its galling chains 
and menaces me with its fleshless finger [falls on his knees). 
Father! oh, father, do not leave me! do not abandon me! 
{Screams.} Oh! no, no! do not curse me! [Falls on the 
ground. ) 

Pedro. Fabricio! Fabricio! 

Fabricio. [Stretching in his head from the side.) What 
is it, father? 

Pedro. Some water, quick! 

Fabricio. [Advancing.) Is he dead? I'm glad of it! 

Pedro. Rascal! (Alonzo rises and presses his fore- 
head.) 

Fabricio. It's not so bad. Look, father, he is getting 
up; such men don't die in a hurry. 

Alonzo. [To Fabricio.) Infamous Tarik! at last 1 have 
found you ! It was your seductions that plunged me into the 
abyss. 'Twas you who caused me to renounce my God, and 
He has punished me, — for I am mad! mad! But you shall 
die. I will bury my sharpened poniard in your bosom; I 
will pierce your heart, and I will tear your body with my 
teeth. Ah, ha! you tremble, — you flee! Oh, you will not 



40 THE MALEDICTION. 

escape me! ( While he speaks, Fabricio runs about the 
stage, and Alonzo follows him. Fabricio falls on his 
knees. ) 

Fabricio. Oh! pardon, Mr. Fernando, but I'm not called 
Carrott. I only know that he is 

Alonzo. True, you are too wicked to permit of my stain- 
ing my sword with your blood. 

Fabricio. Oh, yes! do not soil your sword, I beseech 
you. 

Pedro. My dear Fernando, — poor child! — come to your 
repose again. See how beautiful all nature is; how green the 
trees and how bright and sparkling the waters. 

Alonzo. 'Tis your voice, father! Oh, how warm I am! 
Why am I dressed so! Fabricio, why are you terrified? 

Fabricio. No wonder I'd be afraid, when you, with your 
antics, have chilled every drop of blood in me; so that 

Alonzo. My God! my God! did I fall again into a fit of 
madness. Pardon me, Fabricio. 

Fabricio. Oh! it's easy enough to say pardon, pardon! 
But when you had killed me; when you had eaten my heart 
with a little salt, would I pardon you then? Perhaps! 

Alonzo. {To Pedro.) Father — for you merit that name 
— you, alone, have pity on me; when all abandoned me, you 
stretched forth your hand to my assistance; when all repulsed 
me, you received me and appeased my hunger. 

Fabricio. And without reproaching you for being aw- 
fully hungry. 

Alonzo. I ask yet another morsel of bread for to-day, as 
I am very hungry. But, then, I will leave you; I will bury 
myself in the caverns of yonder mountains, where I may be 
able to end the miseries of this wretched life. Here, perhaps, 
I might be forced to repay your unbounded generosity with 
crime. 

Fabricio. Yes, indeed, this is good reasoning, I say. 

Pedro. I am going to give you bread, my child, not only 
to-day, but to-morrow, and always. Fabricio, quick! some 
bread and wine. 

Fabricio. But, father 

Pedro. Go, I say! (To Alonzo.) Fernando, but one 
thing troubles me, — you will not tell me your name, 



THE MALEDICTION. 41 

Aloxzo. Impossible! 

Pedro. Why impossible, my boy? At present, while 
your mind is calm, you can make known to me your sorrows 
and sufferings. I am but a poor peasant; but what of that! 
I may perhaps be able to give you some consolation in 
your affliction. Come, my boy, tell me your name. 

Alnozo. I cannot; if I tell you my name, I shall lose 
your esteem. I do not wish to appear to you otherwise than 
a poor unfortunate, and I fear to show myself a criminal. 

Pedro. But you belong to a more elevated rank than 
mine; your language, your manners, are not those of the 
common people; you must belong to some noble family. 

Alonzo. I have none; I have renounced it. 

Pedro. And your father? 

Alonzo. My father! I have one no longer. But, oh! 

cease these questions. I feel my head is becoming 

troubled again. Pedro, my benefactor, my ideas are con- 
fused ; my heart is broken. Oh, unfortunate creature that I 
am! 

Pedro. My child, my child, I respect your secret; I will 
no longer seek to know it. But why does Fabricio not come? 
Come, come, Fernando; come, quench your thirst and appease 
your hunger; a short repose will calm your agitated mind; 
come. {Exeunt. Eitter Fabricio with a basket on his arm?) 

Fabricio. Well, well! Where can they have gone now? 
Father! Fernando! no one answers! Father! Father! Not 
a word. Who knows but Fernando, with his old kingdom, 
has carried my father off with him! I don't know; but I 
always had the idea that this man, with his Carik and Lopez, 
might be either a sorcerer or the devil changed into a Chris- 
tian to cut up some of his capers. I -I 1 don't 

know why, but I shiver like a leaf, and big drops of sweat 
are oozing out of my forehead; just look at them. I'm afraid 
to go back alone. Oh, oh, oh! {Enter Pedrillo running?) 

Pedrillo. Here I am at last! 

Fabricio. {Frightened.) Father, father! help! the devil! 

Pedrillo. What! are you a fool? Keep quiet. {Ap- 
proaches.) 

Fabricio. {Recoiling.) Not so near, Mr. Sa — Sa — Satan, 
Mr. Bee— Beel — Beelzebub, I beg of you. 



42 THE MALEDICTION. 

Pedrillo. Well, this is pleasant! Can I have grown like 
the devil without knowing it? What! Fabricio, don't you 
know me? 

Fabricio. Do I know you? — don't come near me. O 
Lord! what claws he has! 

Pedrillo. (Frightened.} Am I really like the devil, 
Fabricio? Am I truly the devil? 

Fabricio. Is it true? and you with your big horns and 
awful eyes! 

Pedrillo. Horns! eyes! claws! that's funny. I don't 
see them. But, Fabricio, 

Fabricio. Shut up! " Get thee behind me, Satan." 

Pedrillo. Again you tell me I've become the devil! 
Well, I won't doubt it; but I know I haven't got claws. My 
nails are a little too long — that's all. But, Fabricio. (Ap- 
proaches.) 

Fabricio. Father! Father! Help! help! 

Pedro. {Entering.) What! — What is it? — Where are 
they? Where? What! Good Lord! is it you, my poor 
Pedrillo? 

Pedrillo. Don't come near me, father! they say I'm the 
devil! 

Pedro. Are you crazy too? 

Pedrillo. There's one of us crazy, but I don't know 
which. 

Fabricio. Father, is this my brother Pedrillo? 

Pedro. Who else could it be? 

Fabricio. (Embracing.) Oh, my poor brother! and I 
took you for the devil! 

Pedrillo. I'm not his infernal majesty any longer, then? 
Well, so much the better, for I have but little regard for him. 

Pedro. But I can't understand what — 

Fabricio. Look here, father; I was thinking entirely of 
this fool Fernando, and I took it into my head that he was 
the devil; then Pedrillo appeared, and I thought surely he 
was Satan himself. 

Pedro. You are both crazy. 

Pedrillo. All right, father; I'm used to it now, and 
this is nothing new to me. 



THE MALEDICTION. 43 

Pedro. What will you have me say, then; am I not 
right? But, come, my boy, let me embrace you once more — 
you whom I thought long since dead. 

Pedrillo. Well, if I am not dead, certainly I came more 
than once near dying. But, say father, my throat is as dry 
as an oven, and I'd like to have a little something just to give 
me breath. 

Fabricio. [Showing 1 basket.) I've got something here, 

Pedrillo; a bottle of famous wine Hold on! there, 

take a good drink of it. 

Pedrillo. [Drinking). Ah! um! good! Better than 
all the compliments of the Mahometans, who, I assure you, 
are most miserably brought up. But now, let us sit down 
here and keep silence. 

Fabricio. Keep silence, when I'm forever silent; when 
I have truly lost my tongue and speech. So that— 

Pedrillo. There, there, there! You see, though, you're 
always talking, and if you keep on I can't speak myself. 

Fabricio. All right, Pedrillo; all right. Go on! 

Pedrillo. I am on the point — just a little drop [drinks). 
So that — you remember — it was the day the Mahometans in- 
vaded our little village. You, father, were with our good 
peasants, and fought bravely. I don't like to praise myself, 
but there are only brave soldiers in the family; yes, I know 
that. 

Pedro. Go on, Pedrillo. 

Pedrillo. All right. Fabricio hid himself under a stack 
of hay, to keep out of danger. By chance I was left alone 
in the house, when, all of a sudden, the door burst open with 
a crash. I didn't lose a second but jumped immediately to 
the foot of the stairs, and, grabbing by the legs the first Ma- 
hometan I met, I threw him over my head, and, slap-bang! 
used him right and left like a good stout club, and terrified 
all that saw me. After I killed about two hundred and sev- 
enty-seven, I set the fellow on his legs again, and let him go; 
of course, he didn't ask for anything better, but ran for his 
life. Worn out with fatigue, I wiped the sweat from my 
forehead, when a troop of horsemen — about ten thousand — 
surrounded me, and I was obliged to surrender. As every- 
body knows, there is no use resisting force. They took me 



44 THE MALEDICTION. 

before the Mahometan general, and he at first view, said to 
me, "Dog!" For you see, father, when they want to pay 
any one a compliment they always say that " dog! " 

Pedro. Well, go on, Pedrillo. What next? We know 
how you were made prisoner of Tarik. Now we want to 
know your adventures after that. 

Pedrillo. All right, father; all right! but you'll spoil it 
all if you be in such a hurry. I was afterwards taken to 
prison, and from there brought before the great Tarik; and 
then, another great adventure! Whom should I meet but 
Lord Alonzo, who had become a Mahometan, and obtained 
a kingdom; and had, of course, I suppose, become a king! 
Then his father Don Vasco recognized him, and after a long 
dispute, said to him: "You are not my son!" Then the son 
answered, " It is not true, I am your son and you are my 
father!" Then the father became very angry, and the son 
threw himself at his feet. But the father cried — " You are 
an apostate; I curse you!" and then the son fell on his face 
and turned insane. 

Pedro and Fabricio. Turned insane! 

Pedrillo. Yes, went crazy! So much so, that when he 
got up, he didn't know what he said, and spoke only of his 
kingdom. 

Fabricio. Eh? Spoke only of his kingdom? 

Pedrillo. He took everybody for different persons, 
always saw crosses, and 

Pedro and Fabricio. It's he! 

Pedrillo. Who's he? 

Pedro. Go on. Go on with your story. 

Pedrillo. A little while after, they tried to make us all 
Mahometans. But there's where I was solid, though. Re- 
nounce my God! What did they take me for! When they 
said to me, "Dog, curse your Christ!" I replied: " I am a 
Christian." Did they recommence the same song, I again 
would give them the air. Don Vasco, who was there, 
encouraged by my firmness, boldly replied to the same ques- 
tions; one and all did the same, and we were all condemned 
to death. 

Pedro. My poor Pedrillo! 

Pedrillo. Behold us, then, dead! 



THE MALEDICTION. 45 

Fabricio. Hey? 

Pedrillo. When I say dead, I don't exactly mean that, 
though we were not quite alive. Hear now how we succeeded 
escaping from death. We had been brought outside of the city, 
in the first place, to be beheaded. On each side of us were 
bodies of Mahometans, as a guard of honor. They were 
boasting of how they would rejoice and laugh to see us walk- 
ing without needing a cap, when — listen, now — when, whoop! 
down went a Mahometan head first to the ground. Marietto, 
a prisoner, had freed him from the troubles of life by plung- 
ing into his throat a stilletto. that he had carried concealed. 
He then grasped the arms of the dead man; all the prisoners 
threw themselves on the Mahometans; the Mahometans on 
the prisoners, — and, oh! what a bedlam! such confusion! 
Here, noses and eyes were flying around; there, heads that 
preferred to stay on their owners' shoulders; others rolling in 
the dust, — and, of the latter, I made a great number myself. 
Grasping a lance, I pierced about six of the most valiant of 
the enemy. A body of masked horsemen approached quickly, 
on hearing the noise of the conflict, and fell upon the Arabs 
who ran for dear life, — one, without an arm ; another, a 
leg; and others lamenting their heads, that they had left on 
the field of battle. Oh, I never saw such a horrible sight! 
And if you could have only got a bird's-eye view of me, 
father, just to see how I fought them, and how they ran like 
a flock of frightened sheep. Oh, the villains! the cowards! 
If I only had twenty-five of them here now, — no: fifty, or a 

hundred. Oh! how nervous I get when I think that if 

{Enter Gensaro running.} 

Gensaro. Pedro, quick! To arms! The Mahometans! 
{Signs of fear on the faces of Pedrillo and Fabricio.) 

Pedro. Run, children, run! To arms! Come, let us die, 
if necessary, for Pelagius and God. What? You will not 
follow! One would say you are both afraid. 

Pedrillo. I afraid! No, indeed; I'm not afraid! If I 
have any fear at all it is only through motives of humanity, 
lest the enemy would turn into figures of stone on beholding 
me. I wish I could find a little corner to hide in, but only 
through a motive of humanity. 

Pedro. Pedrillo, you're a coward! {^Exeunt Pedro and 
Fabricio.) 



46 THE MALEDICTION. 

Pedrillo. I didn't say I wasn't, father. But — I hear 
some one coming — oh! where will I hide? Oh, heavens! 
and I have only just escaped from those awful Mahometans. 
May God protect me! Ah, here under this hench! {Hides 
under the bench.) 

[Enter Don Vasco, Marietto, and Soldiers.) 
Don Vasco. Rest for a while, my brave fellows! we 
are at last in a country of friends. May God be j^raised! 
We were not worthy of the noble crown of martrydom. He 
wishes to try us a few years longer in this miserable world. 
May His holy will be clone! 

Pedrillo. [Under the bench.) That's funny! who ever 
heard before Mahometans talking like Christians! If I only 
dared to look at them ! 

Don Vasco. No one appeals. We must know where 
Pelagius is stationed. Marietto, seek some of the inhabitants 
and bring them with you; I will await your return. [Seats 
himself on the bench. The Soldiers lie doxvn.) Sleep 
weighs down my eyelids; ten nights, passed without repose, 
have weakened my strength. I am nearly exhausted. O 
God, watch over me! Guard my son! protect my son, whom 
I have cursed! (Rises agitated.) Yes, and whom I will 
curse forever, if he remains an apostate. {Sits again.) My 
son, that I loved so much— that I love yet, even while cursing 
him in his evil course! (Falls asleep.) 

Pedrillo. I don't hear any noise (stretches out his head). 
They are all asleep. Just wait a wl-.ile then, my friends, and 
Pll profit by it. ( Comes out from beneath the bench; walks 
towards the side on his tip-toes, and is about to go off the 
stage when Marietto appears and seizes him by the collar.) 

Marietto. Stand, traitor! 

Pedrillo. (Frightened.) It isn't me, I tell you; it isn't 
me! (All the Soldiers arise.) 

Marietto. What! is it you, you fool? 

Pedrillo. Surely every one in Spain will have me by 
that name soon. 

Don Vasco. Ha, a spy! Who is this man? 

Marietto. He is but a miserable coward, my Lord. 

Pedrillo. A coward! ha, ha! that's something new. 



THE MALEDICTION. 47 

Just as if a fellow is a coward because he gets scared once in 
a while. 

Don Vasco. What news, Marietto? 

Marietto. My lord, all the peasants are in arms; they 
are stationed on the neighboring mountain, and will not let 
me approach. 

Pedrillo. They will let me approach, a proof that I'm 
not a coward. If you will let me go, Lord Vasco, I will 
bring you the news. Oh, I'm a coward! Look out, there! 
Let me pass. (Exit.) 

(Enter Aloxzo rtmning across the stage.) 

Don Vasco. O Heavens! my son! Soldiers, bring him 
to me! 

Alonzo. Hold, rash men! have you forgotten who I am? 
who you are? Could Tarik forget his promises? has he for- 
gotten what I did for him! ( To Don Vasco.) You, who 
seem to command these men, tell me who I am. 

Don Vasco. What! Alonzo 

Alonzo. You call me Alonzo, who told you my name? 
My father used to call me that. I was a Christian then; but, 
times are changed. My name is Almanzor; I am king of 
Murcia; Mahomet is the prophet of God. You do not 
speak, friend ? 

Don Vasco. O God! I have lost my son, my only son! 

Alonzo. Old man, you weep! And I weep also. You 
weep for your son, and I for my father. Was your boy also, 
called Alonzo? It is the name of an outcast, — of a being 
poor and cursed! 

Don Vasco. Alonzo, my boy, 'tis I, your father. 

Alonzo. You jest, old man! I killed my father! He 
died for his God; but I renounced my own father. Long, long 
ago, with him, an humble child of Mary, I adored the God 
of Hosts. I was happy then, but I wished to be a king. I 
envied Pelagius; I sold all to become avenged, — I sold my 
honor, and I sold my country. I sacrificed all — all to the 
demon of pride: my God, my king, my father, and a happy 
eternity! — eternity! Let me reflect, old man, — what has so 
great a sacrifice gained for me! {He seems buried in pro- 
found reJlectio7i?) 



48 THE MALEDICTION. 

Don Vasco. Unhappy Alonzo ! Is there no more time for 
you to repent? God has taken away the reason that ought 
to guide you, which alone you ought to cherish, which caused 
your pride. Oh, unhappy child! 

Alonzo. Speak, speak, old man! I know not why your 
voice is sweet. Oh! I enjoy such happiness in hearing it! 
Call me Alonzo; say to me, " I am your father!" 

Don Vasco. My son, you break my heart! Return to 
me; return to reason, — your father begs you! O God, if forty 
years passed in Thy service have deserved any reward; if 
my blood poured out in defence of Thy Name; if I have long 
borne chains and braved the scaffold, oh! return my boy to 
life; restore to him that light which each one bears within him- 
self, which guides our actions, which causes us to merit Thy 
boundless love or hate; give him back the reason which Thou 
hast snatched from him, by wnich he may again be led to 
repentance, and repair with his blood — repair with his life, 
the crime he has committed in renouncing his faith. 

Alonzo. You pray for me, old man, and you call your- 
self my father! But he cursed me! I am worthy of his 
hate. 

Don Vas. Return to me, my son, and I will bless you! 
Abjure your errors, curse the impious sect, which, for a mo- 
ment, bound you in its ties. Repeat, " Glory to Christ! all 
honor to His holy law!" and your pardon, my son, will de- 
scend from the throne of the Almighty. Open your eyes to 
the true light, and your heart to repentance. 

Alonzo. Stop a moment! My head is bursting. What! 
all is changed! Do I dream? Are these all Spanish soldiers? 
O heavens! my father! Father! Father! oh, do not curse 
me! I will die at your feet [falls before Don Vasco). 

Don Vasco. Rise, son of Gomez, and say: "I am a 
Christian." 

Alonzo. Yes, father, I am a Christian; cursed be Ma- 
homet! May the thunders of God's vengeance annihilate his 
followers. May 

Don Vasco. My son, to God alone leave the care of 
vengeance; He, alone, is all-powerful. 

( Cries of " To the rescue ! to the rescue ! " " The Mahom- 
etans!" are heard outside.') Enter Pedrillo, running. 



THE MALEDICTION. 



49 



Pedrillo. There, there! in the valley! Chase them. 
Lord Vasco! chase them! 

Don Vasco. Comrades, to arms! Let us fight the in- 
fidels! 

Alonzo. No, father, stay you here; I wish to lead them. 
Spaniards, follow me: in your van I will either check the 
enemy or die for mj' God. f Exeunt.) 

Don Vasco. Yes: go, my son; repair your fault; defend 
your country, and spare not your blood in its defence. I feel 
I am growing old and feeble; I could not follow you. Let 
us rest here; my head is confused. Peasant, look up yonder; 
do you see the battle? 

Pedrillo. Yes, yes, I see them! O God! how they 
fight! — Why ain't I with them! oh, miserv! There, there 
drops a Mahometan! and now another — and another! Good, 
another one! Bravo, Lord Alonzo! — Ha! look at them run 
like a flock of rabbits. But, what! O God! is it possible? 
No; it cannot be! 

Don Vasco. [Rising.) What! What do you seer Do 
our soldiers flee? 

Pedrillo. No, no' not that! It is not that! 

Don Vasco. Away, and let me see myself. 

Pedrillo. No, no! Lord Vasco; stav there, I heg you! 
Too soon you will know it all ' 

[Enter Tarik, Pedro, P'abricto, Spaniards and Mahom- 
etans. Alonzo is borne in on the arms of the. Spanish 
soldiers. ) 

Don Vasco. My son! m}' son! is he hurt? 

Tarik. Your son! is he hurt! My sword is broken in his 
wounded side. For the first time my hand failed me; I wished 
to pierce his heart. 

Don Vasco. Sir cavalier, add not insult to misery. 

Tarik. (Zb Alonzo.) 'Tis thus, then, most worthy son, 
you keep your word! Was 1 wrong to doubt your sincerity? 

Don Vasco. Spaniai'ds, away with him! 

Alonzo. Hold, father! let him upbraid me with my infi- 
delity. I gave you my allegiance, Tarik, in betraying my 
God. In returning to Him, could I keep it : Spaniards, 
approach. Tarik, hear me. Father, let me lay my aching 



50 THE MALEDICTION. 

head on your kind bosom. I have been very criminal; you 
all have seen me wear the cursed livery of Mahomet — and 
vet, within the depths of my heart I was always a Christian! 
Ambition blinded me; vengeance and hate urged me on. But 
God has guarded me — has recalled me to Himself. 'I offer 
Him the humble sacrifice of my life. Father, bless me; your 
son dies a Christian! Soldiers, be always faithful to your 
God; obey your king; love your country; and, sometimes, 
when in the ev-ening before our Holy Mother's shrine, do not 
forget to think of and pray for me. Come nearer, good 
Pedro. [To Vasco.) Lord, he was my father — —when all 
the others shrank from me. Farewell, my tongue already 
grows thick in death. Farewell! father; farewell! I am go- 
in^ to the feet of [esus, to pray for you — to pray for vou, 
mv good and noble father! ( Dies.) 

Pedro. llapp\ Fernando, may the angels bear thy soul 
'mid heavenly harmony to thy eternal home! 

Don Vasco. Son of Gomez, thy death is worthy of thy 
name; thou hast died fighting for thy God! 

Tarik. It was I who snatched your tender lamb from 
your care. — why, then, longer delav my punishment? 

Don Vasco. What do you await from me? 

Tarik. Death! 

Don Vasco. Death 1 thy god can give that; as for mine. 
He pardons. 

Tarik. Even though 1 have killed your son! 

Don Vasco. My son!" Begone, Tarik ; leave me to weep 
over mv boy. Vou are my prisoner, but fear not for life, it 
is not mine: it belongs to God. 

Tableau. 



THE MALEDICTION. 



?he following is the last Scene of the Third Act remodelled for the 
St. Cecilians, of the University of Notre Dame, Ind.. on their debut 
in this play — in 1875. 



{Enter Tarik, r mining.) 

Don Vasco. Mv son, my son! is he hurt? 

Tarik. Your son: is he hurt! My sword pierced his side. 
For the first time my hand failed me; 1 wished to pierce his 
heart. 

Don Vasco. Sir cavalier, add not insult to injury. 

Tarik. It is thus, then, that your most worthy son kept 
his word! Was I wrong to doubt his sincerity? 

Don Vasco. Pedrillo, away with him! 

Pedrillo. [Approaching Tarik.) You, mister, shut 
up your bill and smother your tongue; hey! will you? 

Tarik. (Menacing Pedrillo.) Away! 

Pedrillo. (Going backxvards.) Oh! please, Mr. Ma- 
hometan, be careful in your movements; you might hurt 
somebody. (Aside.) What a face! his nose is like a frog's 
tail; his lips are big enough to play a cattle-drum. Ah, 
blockhead! stubborn fool! senseless coward! if T catch hold 
of you, Pll make you undergo a change of all colors. 

Tarik. What say you, dog? 

Pedrillo. (Aside.) Dog! dog! that's all he can sav. [To 
Tarik.) Oh! I say — in that — way — that — I say nothing, 

(Enter Pedro, alarmed.) 

Pedro. Lord, Lord Don Vasco! your son is fallen in the 
battle. (Perceiving Tarik.) Ho! here, here is the tyrant; 
here is the murderer of Don Alonzo! What! shall no one 
avenge the atrocity of the crime? He has snatched Alonzo 
from his religion; from his family; from his sacred duties; 
and now he has drenched his sword in his blood! Ho! here 
is the cause of the malediction! Who shall be the avenger? 
Pedrillo, my son, show thy courage; fear no longer for thy 
life, for honor shall compensate for it, Avenge the death of 
Don Alonzo; 



52 THE MALEDICTION. 

Pedrillo. O yes, father, surely I will; my sword is new, 
but the better for it. I'll shorten the ears of that monster. 

Tarik. You coward ! 

Pedrillo. Yes, of course, I am a coward; dog; senseless, 
and anything you wish. ( He pulls out his sword, and tries 
to strike Tarik on the head ; hut the blow being prevented^ 
the fencing commences. After a certain length of time 
Tarik falls beneath the sword of Pedrillo.) 

Don V. and Pedro. Heaven! 
[Enter Fabricio, Spaniards, and Mahometans— Alonzo 
is borne in on the arms of the Spanish Soldiers.) 

Don Vasco. My son, my son yet living! 

Don Alonzo. Oh, father! let me lay my aching head 
upon your kind bosom. i have been very criminal; you all 
have seen me wearing the cursed livery of Mahomet — and 
yet, within the depths of my heart I was always a Christian! 
Ambition blinded me; vengeance and hate urged me on. Bu1 
God has guarded me has recalled me to Himself. I oiler Him 
the humble sacrifice of my life. Oh, father! Tarik is your 
prisoner, but I beg of you to preserve his life— I forgive him. 

Don Vasco. M\ dear Alonzo, Tarik is no longer living; 
the God of Justice has already judged him. Here lies his body. 

Alonzo. Heaven! Father, bless me. Your son dies; bul 
be rather joyful, he dies a Christian. Soldiers, be always 
faithful to your God; obe) your king; love your country; 
and. sometime-, when before our Holy Mother's shrine, do 
not forget to think and pray for me. Good Pedro, approach. 
(To Don Vasco.) My lord, he was my father— when all 

the world repulsed me Farewell, my tongue already 

grows thick in death. Farewell! father; farewell! I am go- 
ing to the feet of Jesus, to pray for you — for you, my yood — 
and — noble father! (Dies.) 

Pedro. Happy Fernando, may the angels hear thy soul 
'mid heavenly harmony to thy eternal home! 

(Illumination — Music from the Orchestra — Tableau, 
CURTAIN. 



End. 



In " Mendoza's" song, page io, the reader will change 
follows: 

The 6th line of ist stanza should read: 

Let our nation's war-cry ring 
Freedom, etc. 

Second and third lines in 2d stanza: 



My mother's dying form they trod, 
Sightless eyes she raised and smiled. 



PROLOGUE. 



PROLOGUE, 



The downward path of folly leads 

To reckless thoughts, to 'vengeful deeds. 

And when the will has been given o'er 

To evil counsel, life no more 

Presents glad views of hope and light; 

For all things bear the deadly blight 

That falls on souls, from truth perverted. 

And Nature's self is disconcerted. 

In the denouement of our play 
This axiom fixed we shall portray. 

A Christian Noble, lured by guile. 

Becomes a Renegado vile: 

Ambition's specious, boastful din, 

Has drowned the voice of Faith within ; 

It drags him to the fatal brink; 

His conscience seared, he -vil! not think; — 

Renounces father, Country, God : — 
Don Lopez and the Turks applaud ; 
But though the flatteries of the foe 
Like waters of the Xenil flow, 
Poor Don Alonzo finds no rest, 
For latent faith stirs in his breast; 
And when vicissitude of war 
Brings his wronged father from afar. 
And faithful Vasco meets his son. 
Who strives that father's gaze to shun. 
How cold Ambition turns the scale! 
How the Apostate's glories pale! 

The battle he has won has brought 
That Sire whose love was set at nought, — 
Brought him a prisoner, doomed to die, 
Unless he will his faith deny. 

The turbaned renegado prince 

Before such presence well may wince; 

What now his empty " pride of" place" 

Before this climax of disgrace? 

What profit in that Moslem crown 

That calls God's malediction down? 

We will not here anticipate 

The plot, but will the scenes await, 

Which show when son to sire was known 

The youth's proud intellect was thrown 



THE MALEDICTION. 



From its mad height. Of reason 'reft, 
What had his Turkish kingdom left? 
The false heart, drawn from bad to worse, 
Writhes 'neath a Christian father's curse. 

Time flies : repentance comes at length, 

And reparation, with the strength 

Of Reason to her throne restored, 

Balm on his sin-crushed heart is poured. 

A Christian, once again, he fell 

At last (O joy the tale to tell !) 

In contest for the Eternal truth, 

Which nurtured him in guileless youth. 

While Tarik died, as brutes expire! 

Than theirs his hopes knew nothing higher. 

But the repentant Spaniard rose 

Victorious o'er his sensual foes; 

For, dying in the cause of Heaven, 

His sinful weakness was forgiven. 

Let great Don Vasco's steadfast zeal 
To every youthful heart appeal, 
That all may, free from folly's fiction. 
Shun Don Alonzo's Malediction. 



^a*^- 



EPILOGUE. 



EPILOGUE. 



" A pendulum betwixt a smile and tear " 
Alan has been called, and so it must appear 
In this our Drama. 

That amusing fellow, 
So brave in safety, named by us Pedrillo, 
May represent a very numerous class, 
Who let the pith of any moral pass: 
Yet, all the laughter that he has excited 
Has harmed no one: in truth, it was invited; 
But it would prove a subject of regret 
If "yellow satin" and the "red rosette," 
The glittering jewel, and the waving plume 
Should rob our Drama of its sweet perfume. 
That is to saj', should laughter and gold lace 
Divert our thoughts from action of God's grace. 
Which made Don Vasco ready to lay down 
His noble life to win the martyr's crown. 

This is the thought; the main and clear intention, 

For which, kind friends, we claim your condescension 

His firmness forms the model high of youth; 

The mark of merit is to stand by truth 

Amid disasters, hatred and contempt; 

He who does this from blame must be exempt. 

His mind of sterling metal has been made, 

Justice by him will never be betrayed. 

Beneath Don Vasco's banner, face and flank, 

May every St. Cecilian proudly rank; 

Yet, in Alonzo, let the false heart see 

What course shall set the slavish spirit free. 

Enough of precept! 

Thank your lenient smile 
On our attempt your evening to beguile: 
. Here, oft again each kindly face to view 
We hope, good friends; meanwhile, we say adieu! 



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